Abstract Try to imagine if you are able to see the internal parts of the human body. Through the development in the field of science and technology, this had been made possible. The method is being used today by surgeons during their operation and it called Image-guided Surgery or IGS. Through the use Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and other equipment, surgery is had never been as fast, easy and with higher success than ever before. These had made IGS above the traditional surgical operation. It is definitely a great achievement in the field of medicine and will surely go a long way.
Image-Guided Surgery INTRODUCTION Image Guided Surgery (IGS) is a surgical procedure that provides surgeons a way to navigate to those hard to reach parts of the patient’s body through the combination of the computed tomography or CT scan, light emitting diode cameras (LEDs) and magnetic resonance imaging or MRI. Those hard to reach parts are navigated through the help of 3D or three-dimensional images. This paper will focus on how images are generated with the aid of the MRI together with some principles and other matters related to MRI and IGS.
In order to fully understand the procedures that are done using IGS in surgical operation, let us first look at what MRI is since it is used in such operation. MRI Magnetic resonance imaging is a painless medical examination that is used by physicians to diagnose and treat their patients. MRI does not depend on radiation in order to construct an internal image of a body unlike x-ray examination and CT scan. It uses a powerful magnetic field and as well as radio waves with the help of a computer in order to be able to produced detailed views of a persons organs, tissues and other details about the patient’s internal body structure.
Using MRI, hydrogen atoms in the body are aligned through the used of a scanner that produces a powerful magnetic field. In order to change the alignment of this magnetization, radio waves are used which also causes the hydrogen atoms to e ale to create a weak radio signal that are now measurable. Additional magnetic field enables the manipulation of these signals to be able to gather enough information. A computer then generates a series of image through the use of the gathered information. These images are then compiled to produce a three-dimensional image of the person’s body.
The formed images can now be seen on a computer monitor for examination and even printing. The images are analyzed by a radiologist and will give the report on the attending physician. In this case Physics and other sciences are really helpful and is really the key for the production of such method. Without our knowledge regarding magnetic fields and radio waves as well as the machineries, MRI will not be possible. Some of the uses or MRI includes the evaluation of chest organs, the abdomen and pelvis.
The MRI is also used by physicians in order to diagnosed different tumors of the body and for several other medical examinations. The traditional design of Magnetic Resonance Imaging unit is a large tube that is cylindrical in shape. Circular magnets surround the cylindrical tube. The patients are then placed in a movable table and slides into the center of the magnets for the examination. Other MRI units had been designed so that the magnet does not completely surround the patient and still, there are those that are open in every side.
These modifications are made for patients who does not like being in a close space. However, the traditional design still gives the best image quality. MRI Body, retrieved from http://www. radiologyinfo. org/en/info. cfm? pg=bodymr&bhcp=1 Advantages and Disadvantages of MRI One of the main benefits of using MRI for diagnosis is that it does not use radiation. Also, the images formed using this procedure is has a higher sensitivity that enables easily identification of abnormalities that are present in the body.
It had also been proven that MRI plays a great role for diagnosing road range conditions such as heart disease, muscular and bone abnormalities and as well as cancer. Another advantage is that MRI does not only allow the attending physician to have a view of the internal body structure of the patient but as well as how that particular organ works. MRI also makes it possible to detect other abnormalities that may be hidden in the bone, abnormalities that may not be seen using other imaging methods.
The materials that are used in MRI are also likely to produce less allergic reactions compared to the use of other imaging method such as x-rays and CT scan. As long appropriately guidelines for safety are followed, MRI poses almost no risk to most of the patients. The main risk or disadvantage of using the MRI is that the devices used that contain metal may malfunction during the MRI exam. Also if the examination uses sedatives, there could risk though the use of excessive sedatives. Still this risk can be minimized by the nurse by checking the vital signs of the patient. The Birth of Image-guided surgery
For several years, surgical procedure involves the used of two-dimensional X-rays combined with the knowledge of the surgeons on human anatomy. Since the all patient’s have different anatomy, every surgical operation is quite challenging adding that the surgeons are only able to see the parts of the anatomy that is exposed and can be seen by the naked eye. Because of this limitation of traditional surgery, patients are often left with tumors that are deeply embedded in the tissue that may be very harmful for the patient when it develops; this gives birth to Image Guided Surgery.
The idea came up also through one of the advances in technology specifically the Global Positioning System. Since the Global Positioning System enables the tracking of vehicles anywhere in the globe through the use of satellites, medical scientist realized that they could also be able to precisely measure the location of an object inside the body without actually seeing it. This gives birth to Image Guided Surgery. Advantages One of the major advantages of using IGS over traditional surgery is that it is less invasive because healthy tissues can be avoided even before the incision.
Also the images can be manipulated and merged to give a level of detail, something that cannot be done in traditional surgery. Through its preciseness and accuracy, surgeons are able to make good decisions on how to get to the targeted area. Because of its accuracy, surgeons are even able to see the ends of healthy tissues and as well as where the tumor starts. Also, due to the constant flow of information, surgeons are able to make necessary adjustments to make sure that the areas that had to be treated are really given attention.
IGS shortens the time needed for an operation and also provides lesser incision. As a result, patient recoveries are a lot faster and those case wherein it is considered to be “inoperable” before can now be treated and dealt with. Image Guide Surgery can be used in several surgical operations. Such operations include cyst removal, brain tumor biopsies, spinal injury procedures and others. It can be said that a lot of people had been saved through the use and development of IGS but does this method work?